Circular-knitting machine.



H. H. WEST. CIRCULAR KNITTINGMACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4. 1914.

Patented Dec. 29. 1914.

T SHIJETS- SEEP-Tl gwvenl'o'c ,HAHRYHWEST wi bywooeo ummy H. H. WEST.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MA'R.4. 1914,

1, 1 22,560. Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

amvewto'a HARRY. H .WEST

e. W K

v atbowwa H. H. WEST. GIROULARKNITTING. MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MARA, 1914.

Pat nted Dec. 29,1914.

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7 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

HAFIHY.

wit/ewes H. H. WEST.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4. 1914.

merited Dec. 29,1914.

7 SHEETSSHBBT 4. 31 G- E HARHYT'H .w sT

J9 a5- 2 i I I I firml H. H. WEST.

GIRGUL AR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MARJ}, 1914 Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

H. H. WEST.

CIRCULAR'KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. i. 1914.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

mm LWHI AM I L I HARRY.H.WEST

wi/lmcmo H. H. WEST.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAP, 4. 19H. 1 122 560 Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

7 SHEETS SHEET 7 anvemoz Wm V HAHH H EST HARRY H. WEST, OF PLYMOUTH, PENNSYLVANIA.

CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec, 29 1914,

Application filed March 4, 1914. Serial No. 822,434.

.7 'o I! whom. it in. 141 concern Be it known that I, HARRY H. \VEs'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plymouth, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circular-l in. ti ng Machines: and 1 do declare the ft. ilowinn to be'a full, clear, and exact desc iotion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it apperta'ns to make and use the same. i

This invention relates to improverr cuts in circular knitting machines of the class especially constructed and adapted for knitting seamless stockings and socks.

The principal object of the invention is to provide simple and eiiicient mechanism for producing a stocking or sock which perfectly fits the foot and ankle Without either stretching or wrinkling.

The hosiery in common use at the present day is fundamentally a na-rrow bag or tube with apouch at one point for the heel and .vhieh is shaped by stretching and shrinking on form boards. Even after this process,

thc angle of the foot with the leg is such that it the human foot were held as the sock is shaped, the w arer would be walking on his toes or. in. shoes with heels six inches high. The human foot extends from the leg at about right angles, and when worn, the ordinary stocking above described, is stretched at the heel and wrinkled at the instep to acconnnodate the foot in this position. The

to avoid these wrinkles in a stocking, of this character is by keeping the stocking pulled up abnormally tight and the strain on the material at the heel and at the instep renders the best yarn frayablc under slight wear.

This invention comprchcnds certain improvements which are especially applicable to what is known to the trade as the Bann x-r knitting lllachine, the general structure oi which is slmwn in U. S. patent to llmuplzilL Ya. 93 3,1 13, dated September 7. H109. and by these improvements, the disadvautagzcs oi the. ordinary stocking above -p. ;-inl:-=i out are overt-mile and a stocking produced which w ll perfectly lit the human ivot- \vii'lnrui tretching or wrinkling. This llcmphil patent mentioned above has retcrew-e to ir ular knitting machines for knitting stockings and socks in which the knitlh is performed by a circular series or column of needles which are moved up and down in vertical grooves in the needle cylinder under the action of the knitting cams on the cam cylinder which encircles the needle cylinder, the knitting of the tubu ar portion of the work forming the leg and foot being performed in continuous circular courses by all the needles under a continuous rotar motion of the needle cylinder, the pouci knitting or fashioning for the formation of the heel and toe being performed in are shaped courses by a part ot the needles (one half being employed in these patented structur s) under the reciprocatory motion of the needle cylinder. I

From the above, it will be obvious that the needle carrying or knitting cylinder is revolubly but not endwise movable, the need e actuating devices or cams being nonrevoluble and normally stationary.

The pattern, as well as the wheels, etc., mounted on the cam shaft, are intermittently rotated at predetermined intervals an in one direction only, by means of controlling mechanism opcratively connected with devices through the mediuniof which the cylinder is rotated at a relatively increased rate of speed while plainbr t-ireular knitting is being produced, and revolved at a greatly reduced speed while being actuated in a rotary rcciprocatory manner during the formation of the heel and toe portions of the stocking. The power used is transmitted, as indicated in the drawing, through a belt adapted to run in one direction only and at a substantially uniform speed. the arrangement being such that when it is shifted onto one pulley, the speed of the needle cylinder is relatively increased and when in engagement with the other pulley, the speed is materially reduced. the machine automatically stopping and locking! itself in stationary position when the belt is shifted onto the idler pulley.

Such parts only of the machine as may be necessary to show the connection and operation of the attachments for carrying out this invention will be illustrated herein.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a knitting machine constructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 represents an end elevation thereof viewed from the left of the machine; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 33 of a horizontal detail sectional view on an enlar ed scale taken through the needle cylinder immediately above the" needle conout certain'needles preparatory to the nartrolling cams, the knitting earns being omitted; Figs. 7 8, 9 and 10 represent respectively one of the cams Y) for throwing rowing operation, Fig. 7 being a front elevation viewed from the inside of the cam with the cam in lowered inoperative position; Fig. 8 is a similar view with the cam in raised orloperative position; Fig. 9 is a plan view thereof with parts broken out Fig.

10 isa vertical section on an enlarged scale taken on-the line 10 10 of Fig. 8 looking in the direction of the arrow. Figs. 11, 12, 13 and l l'represent respectively the other cam for throwing out certain needles preparatory to the narrowing operation, Fig. 11 being a front elevation viewed from the inside of the cam with the cam in a lowered position; Fig. 12 is a similar view with the cam in raised or operative position; Fig. 13 is a top plan view thereof, and Fig. 14 is a vertical section taken on the line 14-14 of Fig. 12. Fig. 15 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially on the line 1515 of Fig. 2; Figs. 16, '17, 18 and 19 are fragmentary end views respectively of the machine showing the parts for controlling the needle cams (X Y) in their various positions: Fig. 20 is aview showing the article produced .by this improved machine; Fig. 21 is a diagram of the inside of thecam cylinder with the needles on the lower working level in the position which is assumed during the circular knitting, the column of needles moving toward the left as shown by the arrow; Fig.

22 is a similar view with the long butt nee-' dles being raised 'nto the upper or nonworking level by t e instep raise cam; Fig. 23 is a similar view with the long butt needles in raised inoperative position with the narrowing picks disposed ready to engage 'and elevate a needle and add it to the already raised needles at each reciprocation of the needle cylinder, the narrowing for the heel now commencing; Fig. 24 is a similar view with the widening picks in position to take down two needles at each reciprocation and the. narrowing picks positioned to elevate orthrow out of action one needle at each reciprocation; Fig. 25 is :1 similar view showing the parts in position for beginning the formation of the toe with the cams (Y X) in position-for throwing up or into the non-working level sufficient needles at each end of the column of those already elevated to constitute one-half of the whole column of needles.

The drawings show the main instrumentalities of a knittingmachine to which the said gear n'is clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 28 o the patent above referred to and includes a main drive shaft 8 carrying what will be termed fast, slow and loose pulleys p, p and p respectively on which abelt p is adapted to be shifted automatically to vary the speed of the machine for knitting the dilferentparts of the hose; for instance ,it is desirable that the machine. operate rapidly When forming the tubular leg and foot pf the stocking and slowly when reciprocating toform the heel and toe and when passing from the leg to the heel and fromthe foot to the 'toe. A handle 79* is arranged at the outer end of this shafts for manually operating the shaft when desired,

A clutch member or hub 12 is keyed to slide on the shaft 8 and is. provided with a peripheral groove for engagement by an operating or shifting lever fulcrumed intermediately of its ends on the frame-of the machine as shown at b". p This clutch is adapted to be moved either to the right or to the/left to eng'ageeitherthe gears or the gear i loosely mounted on the shaft 8 when certain parts hereinafter described are to be operated. i v v Operatively connected with the gear z'is an arrangement of gears (not shown) which forms a compound speed gear and when the clutch Z) is engaged with the gear 2' and the belt shifted onto the fast pulley 7? the shaft 8 will be rapidly rotated and through the gears n and n will rapidly revolve, the needle evlindcr N during the continuous rotary knitting.

The needle cylinder N is provided in its I peripheral portion with uniformlyspaced longitudinal grooves to receive a circular series of independent needles of of diiferent forms distinguished one from the others by and carries the mailiknitting or needle operating cams and the narrowing picks which are brought into action during the knitting of the stocking.

A non-revoluble needle supporting cam M practically surrounds the lower part of the needle cylinder and is secured to said cam plate H and is adapted to support the active needles at the normal lower level while circular knitting is being produced.

The relative arrangement, proportions, etc., of the principal operative parts as drawn are such that the needle cylinder N is revolved once per revolution of the primary shaft 8. The shaft .9 on which the speed and yarn changing cams, etc, are mounted makes one complete revolution during the production of each stocking or piece of knitted work and is intermittently rotated, the means represented for intermittently rotating this cam shaft 8 and the members secured thereon, and also the mechanism for controlling said movements may be described substantially as follows: The fine toothed wheel 0 and chain-carrying sprocket wheel (Z are intermittently revoluble in unison on the shaft 8 by means of the positively reciprocating suitably mounted feed pawl 2" taking its movements from the continuously revolving gear wheel z" through pitnian 2' and arm 2' A coarse ratchet toothed cam wheel a fixed to said shaft and is adapted to be rotated at varying intervals by swinging pawl it movable back and forth in unison with said pawl 2'. The pattern chain carried by the member d is composed of a suitable number of connected links and is provided with a predetermined number of properly disposed lugs.

Inter-gearing with, located at the back of and actuated by the continuously revoluble small gear 2 which turns in one direction only, is suitably mounted the large gear z" (see Figs. 1, 3 and 4) having the pitman i jointed thereto and to the short arm 2' of a pivoted rocking bell crank lever, the long arm i of which has a segment-shaped free end with gear teeth cut in its periphery which are in continuous working engagement with the looselymounted spur gear 2 to drive it in a rotary reciprocating man ner. The action of the slow speed pulley ,1) keyed to gear 2' operates by means of gear a, segment i gear *5, etc., to rotate the shaft a and the cylinder N back and forth when the clutch huh I) is moved toward the left and interlocks with the gear i and the last named gear revolves the shaft 8, its speed ratio being very much reduced therebtgor, in other words, the driving belt will revolve pulley 72' several revolutions to one of the cylinder and by means of the arrangement of gear described the speed of the revolving knitting cylinder is iii creased with respect to the speed of the driving belt when producing circular work and materially decreased while knitting the heel and toe portionsas when the cylinder is actuated in a rotary reciprocating manner.

fl o the front end of the intermittently this shaft 8 and at the rear or left end of i said, shaft is mounted a cam drum 9 for a purpose to be described.

A horizontal spring pressed cam carrying block D is mo'vably guided in an endwise direction toward and from the cylinder N and on which are mounted the main knitting or needle operating cams and the narrowing picks It. Mounted on this block and secured to its inner or working face is the upper central guide member 6 and the lower central ,guard member shown in Figs. 21 to 25 and the space between them forms apath for guiding the needle butts. The oppositely disposed or right and left wedge shaped knitting cams m. r usually termed raise and draw cams are also mounted on this block. The upper sides of said knitting cams when in use deflect the needles upwardly and the lower beveled sides deflect or draw the needles downwardly and the latter after passing thereunder engage the recessed cam member M and deflect the needles to the top edge thereof all being arranged whereby the device is adapted to impart to the traveling needles the usual wave like movement at the knitting point while the cylinder may be revolving in either direction.

The narrowing picks R which are car ried by the cam block I) each has an arm 5 which when the block D is retracted engage stationary stops 1" secured to the plate H whereby the shanks of the picks are swung upwardly and outwardly out of position to allow the needles to be depressed. These picks R are brought into operation at the beginning of the narrowing operation when the cam shaft 8' has been shifted to throw the clutch 6 into engagement with the gear i and the belt shipper 72 operated to shift the belt p" into the slow pulley y) whereby the reciprocation of the needle cylinder is produced. v

Bolted to the table 0 opposite the narrowing picks is a bracket E in which are pivotally mounted a pair of oppositely disposed spring pressed widening picks T which are operated by means of arod is controlled by a cam member on the cam shaft 8'.

Mounted on the cam plate H are the instep raise and draw cams F and F which a e controlled by the clutch shifting lever 11 through thelink I) and akbell crank lever I). connected with said instep cams as is clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings hereto attached. Y

At the narrowing and widening operation it is to be understood that all of the long butt needles, herein shown as one-fourth of. the column, must be temporarily thrown out of action into the non-working level which is a higher level than that of the other needles, the latter continuing in service during this portion of the knitting. Concurrently with the change of movement of the cylinder from continuous circular to reciprocatory rotary knitting the instep cam device F is elevated by means of the horizontal connection 6 jointed to the clutch shipper arm Z) whereby all the long butt needles are deflected upwardly by said cam andthrown out of action (see Figs. 22 and 23), the diagram shown in Fig. 22 showing this cam- F operating to raise the long butt needles and the diagram 23 showing them after they have been raised by said cam. At the same time the short butt needles, about three-fourths of the column as herein shown, are standing in the lower pr Working planeand form a column arranged oppositely to the column ofelevated needles and having a gap between the ends of the column. Upon actuating the cylinder in a rotary reciprocatory manner the action of the narrowing picks R- alternately elevate out of action a short butt needle from each end of this column, the operation being continued until the desired narrowing point is attained. This action adds the short butt needles alternately to the ends of the row of the elevated long butt needles thereby decreasing the gap in the latter column and correspondingly increasing the gap in the working column of needles.

In the videning operation which commences immediately succeeding the narrowing part each pick T throws down two needles alternately from each 'end'of the column of elevated or non-working needles to the normal working plane thereby adding to the length of the then remaining comparatively short column of working needles and at the same time increasing the gap between the ends of the column of the nonworking needles.- T he narrowing picks are continued" in action throughout the widening process and until the completion of the knitting of the'hecl or toe portion as the casc may he an d the resumption of circular knitting at which instant all the picks are rendered automatically inoperative.

In the half hose shown .in F ig. 20, which is the product resulting from the improvements constituting this ini'cntion, the object is accomplished by the iorination of a large heel knit on a pproXimathIy three. fourths of thl column of needles which needles are retained on the normal working lerel. when the machine passcs'i'rom circular to' reciprocatory knitting for the narrowing for the heel; one-fourth of the column, which constitutes all of the long butt When the foot has been completed and the toe is ready to be knit it is obvious that it will be necessary to throw one-halt loif'i the'". needles out of action prior to the narrowing operation in order that the stitchesn ay be properly looped to close the toe. Tetaneomplish this raising of the additionatl needles at the proper time certain automatically controlled earns arejprovided for elevating suiiicient of the short butt needles on opposite sides of the columnof long butt needles which were previously raised by the instep cam F prior to the positioning of the parts for the narrowing for the toe. These needle raising eamsand the mechanism for, operating and controlling them form the subject matter of this invention and they will now be described. i

As shown applied in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, diagrannnatieally in Figs. 21 to 525 and in detail in Figs. 7 to 14, two'cams Y and X are mounted in suitable housings 10 and 25 at opposite sides of the block carrying the stitch cams and in position to engage the short butt needles on opposite sides of the column 0 of long butt needles at predetermined intervals, said column as-heretofore stated constituting about one-fourth of the entire column of needles.

The ealn Y is preferably constructed as shown in detail in Figs. 7 to 10. having upwardly inclined ends .and being concavoconvex longitudinally and mounted to slide vertically in said housing 10 and to seat when lowered into inoperative position in a. recess'll in the upper edge of thecam plate M. The upper edge of the cam Y is flush with the upper edge of the cam M when so seated'as shown in Figs. 7 and 21 to 2- A stud 12 extends laterally outward from the cam 1' through a slot 13 in the housing 10 and is loosely engaged with a laterally extended. arm 14 attached to a rod 15 guided in a suitable sleeve 15 extending through the base plate a". connected with a pitman or red l6 the lower end. of which is pivotally connected with one end of a horizontally disposed lever 17.

This lever 17 is fuierumed intermediatcly of its ends on a suitable support 18 and its free end has an inturned nose 19 which is positioncd n the path of a cam 20 on the drum 9. This drum 9 is loosely mounted on the left end of the shaft 8' and held in frictional engagement therewith by any suitable means, a leather disk 22 being here shown arranged for this purpose between the outer face of the drum a metal. disk 22 se- This rod 15 is adjustably. I

cured to the shaft 81, It is necessary that this drum be so held to adapt it to turn with the shaft 3' and also to permit it to turn on the shaft independently thereof by means to be described, its frictional engagement being sufficient to hold it against accidental turning. on the shaft. i

The cam X shown in detail in Figs. 11 t0 ll and mounted outside the needle supporting cam M in the housing 25 is shown in the formiof a substantially rectangular body slidable vertically in the housing 25 and having an obliquely disposed upper end 26 the inclined face 27 of which forms a riding surface for the needles which pass thereover and the straight terminal thereof elevates the needles into the non-working level (see Fig. 25) as will be hereinafter more fully described.

A stud 30 extends laterally outward from the body of the cam X through, a slot 31 in the housing 25 and is loosely engaged with a block or arm 32 on the upper end of a rod 33 adjustably connected with a rod or pitman 34. The rod 34 is pivotally con-' nected at its lower end with a lever 35 near the free end of said lever and which lever end is provided with 21. depending nose 36.

The other end of this lever 35 is lcrumed on a stu'b'shaft 37 extending laterally from the machine frame. The nose 36 of the lever 35 is positioned in the path of a cam 38 on the drum 9 for a purpose to be described.

The drum 9 is provided on its periphery with geams 20, 38 and 10 disposed in concentric parallel planes, the cam which extends around the greater portion of the drum 9 being here shown arranged near its outer end; cam 20 near the inner end of the drum and at a point opposite the middle of the cam 40, and cam 38 which is the shortest of the three and the highest is shown disposed in the intermediate path or plane between cams 20 and 40 and at a point opposite the space between the ends of cam 40. The drum 9 has a toothed rim 11 provided with a series of teeth, three being here shown numbered 1, 2 and 3 respectively and disposed varying distances apart, for a purpose to be described.

-A lever 39 is fulcrumed intermediately of its ends on the stud shaft 37 which also carries the lever 35 and is provided at its free end with a lateral nose 39. positioned in the path of the long cam 40 which extends around the greater portiru of the cir-,

cumference of the drum 9 and holds said nose in elevated position during the greater portion of the revolution of the drum as.

will be further described hereafter. The

other end of the leve; Ill; is connected by a 68 This lever 46 has its ends oflset or arranged out of longitudinal alinement by means of a lateral tubular portion 48 arranged intermediately of its ends and through which the shaft 47 extends. The link is-connected with the outer short end of said lever 46 between the sleeve 48 and the terminal of said short end which latter is pivotally connected with one end of a pitman 49. The other end of this. pitman 49 is pivotally connected with a crank arm 50 which is fixed on a stub shaft 51 which .ex-

tends through a suitable bearing 52 arranged transversely ofthe machine frame. On the free end of this shaft 51 is fixed an arm 53 carrying a roller 54'which is positioned adjacent the inner face of the large gear a" and is adapted to be engaged at predetermined periods by cams 42 and 43 secured to the inner face of said gear 71' (see Figs. 3, 4 and 16) for a purpose to be described. i

A dog 44 is pivoted on the free end-of the lever 46 and held in spring pressed engagement with the toothed mm 41 being designed to engage the teeth thereof at predetermined intervals as will be hereinafter described.

The levers 17, 35 and 39 are held with their noses in yieldable operative engaging position by means of suitable springs 55 positioned at any desired or suitable point for so holding them.

During the knitting of the leg, heel and foot of the stocking the drum 9 is turned slowly by each moyement of the cam shaft 8' n which it is frictionally held in the manner above described, being carried around with said shaft by the pins 56 and 57 one of which is mounted on the drum 9 and the other on an adjacent element on the cam shaft 8' here shown on the cam wheel 9.

The nose 39' of the lever 39 which controls the position of the roller 54 and consequently the turning of drum 9 on shaft 8' travels on the long cam 40 of said drum 9 and is held thereby in raised position as shown in Fig. 2 during the knitting of the leg, heel and foot of the stocking. The rear end of this lever 39 and of the lever 46 to which it is connected are thereby depressed whereby the upper end of the pitman or rod 49 is drawn down thus lowering the end of the arm 50 and elevating the free end of arm 53 to position the roller 54 out of the path of the earns 42 and 43 carried by the large continuously rotating gear wheel 1" (see Fig thus beobvious that this drum 9 performs above mentioned.

When the leg of the stocking has been nearly completed by knitting in circular 0 courses and just prior to the narrowing for the heel, the parts of the machine are disposed as shown in Fig. 21,. all the needles eing in operative position, and the turning of the cam shaft s which is controlled by the pattern chain B and cam wheel e brings cam p into engagement with the belt shipper p and shifts the belt p? from the fast pulley p on which it has been operating during the circular knitting onto the slow ulley 12; During this shifting of the belt rom'the fast to the slow ulley the speed of the cylinder is decreased gradually in a well known manner. After this shifting of the belt the clutch lever b is moved to the of the lever 12 the instep cam Fis raised through rod 6 below crank I) connected with said clutchshift'mg lever, and all of the long butt needles G, here constituting one-fourth of the entire column are raised to the non-working level as shown in Figs. 22 and 23. and the needle cylinder is then ready for reciprocatory knitting to form'the h'eel. I At the end of the circular knitting just before the beginning of the reciprocatory knitting theneedle cylinder N stands still for a. short period, and this period of rest also occurs at the end of each reciprocatory stroke. These rests are due to the lost motion occurring when thew'rist pin connection of the pitman 2' asses from one side to the other of the dead center of the gear a" .which is a distance of about an inchand a quarter, more or less; also to the taklng up of the back lash which occurs between the teeth of the segment gear and pin-ion i" and between the teeth of the bevel geads nand n which, latter takes place immediately following that of segment i and gear 71. This short interval during which the cylinder remains stationary is utilized later in the knitting of the stocking just prior to the narrowing for the toe for raising the cams jY and X for a purpose to be described.

When the cylinder changes fromcircular to reciprocatory knitting after the'completion of the leg the large heel, shown at A in Fig. 20 is knit on the short butt needles which remain on the working level and which constitute three-fourths of the entire column, by first narrowing and then widen in in the usualmanner as above described,

' it eing understood that when the narrowing is completed the drum turns and throws in the widening picks, then remains station-- ary until the widening is com'pieted and the.

.zmachine throws ed the heel.

Aften'the .heel.. has been "knit the lever b, minder. Itheitiirning-of the. cam .drurn f which left and simultaneously with this shiftingto the slow pulley and then the lever 11 is moved to the left to cause clutch b: to be again shifted into engagement with the gear 2' for changing the movement of the cyline from continuous rotary to reciprocato'ryi Simultaneously with this shifting oflever b the instep cam F is raised as above described and the cylinder again stands, still before beginning its reciprocatory movement for the knitting of the toe. During this interval while the cylinder is still theneedle raising cams Y and X are elevated and positioned as shown 1n Fi 25 at each side of the knit ting cams :0. T iis raising of the cams Y and X occurs when the drum 9 has been turned sufliciently by shaft s"which is rotated by the engagement of the pawl h with the proper teeth on the-wheel e, to cause the nose of the roller controlling lever39 3% to drop off the straight end of the long cam 10 into the position shown in Fig. 16 and this dropping of this lever through the action of link a5 and pitman -19 positions the roller 54 in the path of cams 4 12 and 43. The continued turning ofthe gear a" in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 16 causes the cam 42 to pass under the roller 54: and raise it a predetermined distance, thereby lowering the pitman 49 and with it the outer roe end of the lever 46 whereby the ;:log H is caused to engage the tooth 1 in the rim 41 of the drum 9, (see Figs. 16 and 17,) and turn said drum on the shafts a predetermined distance suificient to cause the projection 2Q oncam 20 to pass under the nose 19 of lever 17 and raise said lever, carrying with it the rod 16 connected with the needle raising camwhich .latter is thus lifted into position toraise at one end of the column C the desired number of short butt needles out of action as shown in Fig. 25. This turning of drum 9 on shaft .9 :by the dog l4 moves the stud 56 away from the stud 57 and thus prevents the drum from being turned by the shaft s the position of said studs 56 and 57 during this-turning-of drum 9 by dog 44 being shown clearly in Figs. 17 to 19. Immediately after these needles are raised the cam projection 29 passes from under nose 19 of lever 17 and causes the cam Y to drop slightly below the lower ends of the needles just raised thereby into the position shown in Fig. 25 whereby suflicient space is left between the upper edge of said cam Y andthe needle ends'to prevent any danger of the .cam engaging said needle ends on the return or first forward stroke of the cylinder for the reciprocatory knitting.

The cam Y is raised and dropped slightly to the position shown in Fig. 25 just before the beginning of the first reeiprocatory stroke of the needle cylinder and the movement of the cylinder on this stroke follows so quickly that there is not sufli'cient time to lower the cam to its seat 11 without danger of injury to the short butt needles which remain in operative position, hence the cam 20 is made suliieiently long to retain it under the nose 19 of the lever which controls the position of cam Y until the cylinder makes its return or first forward stroke for reciprocatory knitting when the cam 20 moves from under nose l9 and causes rod 16 and the cam Y connected therewith to drop to the position shown in Figs. 21, 22,23 and 2-4:. Simultaneously with the raising of cam Y, the cam X is raised which is accomplished by the passage of the cam 38 on the drum 9 under the nose 36 of the lever 35 which raises said lever and elevates the rod 34: and cam X carried thereby into the position shown in Fig. 25, so that the needles on top of this cam X and the needles passing thcreover will be raised into the nonork ing level. The elevation of the cams Y and X raises the required number of short butt needles at each end of the non-working column G to throw out onehalf of the entire column of needles which is necessary prior to the narrowing operation for the toe, it being obvious that an equal number of needles mustbe disposed in the working and non-working columns respectively during this operation in order that the loopers may properly operate for elosin the toe after the widening operation has geen completed. As shown in Fig. (5 the remote ends of these cams Y and X are disposed at diametrically opposite points to insure the raising thereby into inoperative position, prior to the narrowing for the toe, of exactly onehalf of the entire column of needles. The cam Y being positioned and held as shown in Fig. 25 provides sullicient space between its lower edge and the upper edge of cam M to permitthe passage of the butts of the operative short butt needles during the first forward reeiprocatory stroke of the cylinder. After these cams Y and X have been raised, the cylinder begins its return or first forward stroke for reeiprocatory knitting and when the last needle to the left of cam X between said cam and the long butt needles has passed the point X of said cam the small cam 43 on the gear wheel 2'. has in the meantime passed under the roller 5% and lowered the rod 49 causing the dog 4i to engage the tooth 2 of the drum 9 and turn said drum on the shaft 8 a distance suliieient to cause the cam 38 to pass from under the nose 36 of lever 35 (see Fig. 18) thus causing said nose to drop and carry with it the cam controlling rod 3% thereby lowering the cam X into inoperative position as shown in Figs. 21 to 2%, leaving the needles raised thereby in the non-working level. The cylinder then starts on its return or backward stroke and before it reaches its extreme limit thereof the large cam 4-2 again lifts roller 5-1: owing to the fact that the large gear a" has in the meantime made a complete revolution and thus brought cam 42 again into the path of the roller 5i, and through rod l9 and lever 46 causes dog it to engage tooth 3, of the drum rim -11 (see Fig. 1.9) and turn said drum sufiiciently to cause ram 20 to pass from under nose 19 of lever 17 thereby pulling rod 16 down and lowering cam Y into its seat ll in the cam plate M out of the way of the needles.

Simultaneously with the lowering of cam Y the nose 39 of lever 39 rides up on the beveled end of cam l0 and thereby moves the roller out of the path of the cams 42 and -13 where it is held by said engagement of nose 39 with the long cam 40 and the machine is then ready for the narrowing for the toe, which is then knit in the usual manner by first narrowing and then widening and finally closing the toe along the edges of the gores when the stocking is complete.

In the operation of this machine when the parts are.in position for circular knitting to produce the leg of a stocking the machine is set into action by the belt shipper p thereby automatically shifting the driving belt from the idler pulley onto the loosely revoluble quick speed driving pulley p. The belt while thus passing onto the driv ing pulley p will necessarily cross the intermediate or slow speed pulley 1) thus starting the machine into knitting action more slowly and with less strain upon it than if the pulley p were located immediately eontiguous to the idle pulley.

The first movement of the revolving knitting cylinder carries the depressed short butt needles in a straight line past the face of the rear knitting cam a1, the outer ends of the immediately following long butt needles at the same time engaging the cam 6" and beingdeflected into the path 6 thereby ])O.-;lti01ing them to engage the downwardly deflecting surface of said rear cam,- and passing thereunder while making the first stitrh at the same instant that the last of the short butts pass the face of the cam. Simultaneously with this operation the spring of-the cam block 1 automatically ad- \unces it and its narrowing picks to the .normal working level close to the surface of the revolving need e cylinder, the relation of the several members being substantially as represented in diagram in Fig. 21. In this figure the lower dotted line shown above the edge of the cam M'indicates the normal working path of the butts and corresponding with the production of circular or plain knitting. The coiiperation of the revolving knitting cylinder and the members of the now positioned cam block D together with the usual cams cause the moving needles to successively receive therein the yarn from properly positioned guides thereby converting it into new loops'and at the same time casting off the old loops or stitches from the tops of the needles into the web revolving with the cylinder. This action of the machine then produces plain or circular knitting each revolrtion of the cylinder corresponding with one row or course of stitches. The machine continues at the normal fast speed and without change to knit circular work, as in producing the leg portion of the stocking until the advancing pattern chain 13 brings one of the double or high lugs into cooperation with the swinging pawl controlling member It. In the meanwhile, however, the cam shaft 8' has been advanced about one-sixth of a revolution. At this point, or as determined by the relative position ofthe highlug on the pattern chain and the members controlled by the resulting movement of-shaft s the first yarn and speed changing actions take place to produce the narrowing for the heel of the stocking. That is to say the engagement of the member I). with the proper lug on the pattern chain B allows the lug by means of the pawl 72 vto move the ratchet wheele a predetermined distance thereby correspondingly rotating the cam wheel f and its shaft 8 and at the same time causing the lower end 6 of the clutch lever I) to be deflected laterally through an opening 7 of the cam rib 7 to the. outer or right side, thus sliding the clutch member 7) to the left intojengagement with gear 2' thereby also shifting the con-' tinuously running belt from pulley 7) onto pulley 7). This materially reduces the speed and at the same time changes the movement of the cylinder fromcontinuous circular to reciprocatory rotary. Concur-v rently with said; change the instep cam F is elevated by means of the horizontal con nection b jointed to the clutch shipper arm Z) whereby allthe long butt needles are deflectedupwardly by said cam out of action intothe nonworking level which is indicated :by the double row of dotted lines at themle't't. of Fig; 22. This Fig. 2i.- shows the *instep cam F in thc act of elevating the long butt needles, which in this machine constitute'abouti ore-fourth of the entire column of needles ill these long butt needles which as-lie \nm'statcilconstitute about one .fourthlo't' the total number in the cylinder a-re"n0w elevated in to the non-working plane as shovaniinhigrfldand are out of action while the-machine inits'reclprocatmg move-" ments forms the narrowing for the heel. This narrowing operation is performed by the joint action of the cylinder and the-self dropping angularly swinging narrowing picks R, R, whereby a short butt needle is thrown up alternately out of action from each end of the column of moving needles during each double reciprocation of the cylinder. ThlS narrowing process is continued until the desired point has. been reached which is controlled by :1 lug properly posihave just been elevated by the narrowing picks, R, the cylinder still moving in a rotary reciprocatory mannen The function of these widening. picks T is'to alternately deflect or throw down into action a pair of short butt inactive needles fromeach end of the gap in the column of elevated or idle needles during each double reciprocation of the needle cylinder. While this is taking place the narrowing picks R are kept working, thus producing the well known two and one knittingaction. This knitting action is continued until the advancing pattern chain carries the proper lug into engagement with the member h for releasing and rotating the cam shaft and its members a. predetermined distance'to properly position the cam f to engage the lower end of the clutch lever b to shift the clutch to the right'to engage the gear 2' and change from reciprocatory to circular knitting and at the same time to shift the driving belt ontothe. pulley p to resume the quick speed circular knitting to produce the foot portion of the stocking.

The continued quick speed rotation of the cylinder operates to knit the circular or plain .portion of the foot and changes to slow just 'beforethe narrowing'for the toe is to be produced. Then the operation above described relative .-.to the actuation of cams X and Y preparatory to the narrowing for the toe is performed ;"the toe narrowing and widening .are effected in the usual. manner and after the knitting of a. few circular courses abouttwenty, more or less, which are utilized in seaming in. a well known manner the stocking is complete.

After the needle cylinder has passed from reciproeatoryknitting at; the end of. the widening operation forthe; toe onto circular knitting and has formed'thecourses for the s a sufiicient distance .-:to operate". cam

late stockin is. messed oil. The cam )late l 2: l l

is then lowercd'ready for transferring.

The pawl h then engages another tooth of wheel 6 and turns shaft sand shifts the belt from the slow pulley onto the loose pulley p and the machine is thereby stopped or thrownout of operation. o At the beginning of the operations described in the above paragraph the cam drum 9 is stationary with the studs 56 and 57 in the position shown in Fig. 19. During said operations the turning of shaft 8 slowly advances pin 57 until it again'cngagesthe pin 5Q on saiddrum 9 and turns the drum with the shaft into the position shown in Fig. 2 which shows the position of these parts at the beginning of the knitting of the stocking leg.

From the above description it will be ob- \lOllS' that the operation oi? themachine as set "forth produces a stocking having the usual leg, foot, and toe in combination with an enlarged heel knit on three-fourths of the needles or -the column and that the formation of this large heel produces a stocking" with the foot disposed substantially at'right angles to the'lcg and with the necessary quantity of material in said foot prevent stretching atthe 'heel and wrinkling at the instep and to avoid the necessity of pullin up the-stocking tight at the front the'reor which has become lieretofoi'ie' necessary to in frictional engagement s id shaft to adapt cause it tofit properly over the ankle without wrinkling.

I claim as my invention: y 1. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a revoluble needle cylinder, a cam shaft, means on said cam controlling the knitting operation of said cylinder, a cain drum mounted to turn on said cam shaft, means for holding said drum with said. shaft to adapt it-to be turned therewith, means for raising a 'portion'oi the needles in said cylinder at lixcdintervals, means for 'rais ing a predetermined number of needles at each side ofthe column of previously raised needles just lie 'n'e thenarrowing operation begins; and-m ans controlled by said cam drum for o rting said"last mentioned needle raising means at predetermined intervz'zls. a in a circular knitting machine,tl combination with a revoluble needle cylinder and a cam shaft, means on said am shaft for controlling the knitting operations of said cylinder, of a camdrum mounted to turn on said cam shaft, means for holding said drum in frictional engagement with it who turned therewith, rns for raising a portion of the needles in instep and combination with shaft for "at a predetermined point, cams said cylinder at fixed intervals, spaced cams arranged adjacent said cylinder for raising a predetermined number of needles at each end of the column of previously raised needles, and automatically controlled means on said cam drum for raising and lowering the needle raising cams at predetermined intervals.

In a circular knitting machine the combination with a revolulo'le needle cylinder having needles slidable therein, a cam shaft, knitting mechanism controlled by said cam shaft, a cam drum mounted to turn with and on said shaft,a continuously rotating gear, means for elevating acolumn of said needles into the non-working level at a predetermined point, cams for elevating to the non-working level at both ends of the column of the first raised needles a predetermined number of auxiliary needles, and cooperating means on said gear and drum for controlling the actuation of the cams which raise the auxiliary needles.

In a circular knitting machine, the

a revoluble needle cylinder having needles slidable therein, a cam shaft, knitting mechanism controlled by said cam shaft, a cam'drum-mounted to turn with and on said shaft, a continuously rotating geaigm'eans for elevating a column of said needles into the non-Working level at a predetermined point, cams for elevating to the non-working level at both ends of the column of the first raised needles a predetermined number of auxiliary needles, cams on said drum and gear for controlling the actuation of the cams which raise said auxiliary needles, said drum'being controlled by the knitting mechanism for bringing the cams thereon and on, said gear into 0pcrat 1011. g

5. In circular knitting machine, the combination with a re'voluble vneedle cylinder having needles slidable therein, a cam shaftj knitting mechanism controlled by said cani shaft, a cam drum mounted to turn with and on said shaft, a continuously 'rotatin'g gear, means for elevating a column of said needles into. the non-working level for elevatin to the non-working level at both ends of the column of the first raised needles a prede- :termincd number of auxiliary needles, cams on said drum and gear, and connected levers and rods operable and gear for controlling the actuation of the cams which raise said auxiliary needles, the turning of said drum with said shaft being controlled by the knitting mechanism.

by the cams on said drum 3 6. In a circular knitting machine, the

combination with a rereluble' needle cylinder having needles slidable therein, a cam shaft, knitting mechanism controlled by said cam shaft, a cam drum mounted to turn with and on said shaft, a continuously rotating gear, means for elevating acolumn of said needles into the non-working level ata predetermined point, cams for elevating to the non-working level at both ends of the column of the first raised needles a predetermined number of auxiliary needles, cams-on said drum and ear, and connected levers and rods operable y the cams on said drum and gear for throwing intozoperation iliary needle raising cams and having noses positioned in the paths of the' cams on said drum, and means for turning said drum on said shaft to move said drum carried cams under the noses of said levers-for raising and lowering the. auxiliary needle raising cams into operative and inoperative positions respectively.

8. In a circular knitting machine, the

v combination with a revoluble needle cylinder having needles slidable therein, a cam shaft, knitting-mechanism controlled by said 1 cam shaft, a cam drum mounted to turn with and on said shaft, a continuously rotating gear, means for elevatin a column of sai needles into the non-wor ring level at a pre determined point, cams for elevating to the non-working level at both ends of the column of the first raised needles-a, predetermined number of auxiliary needles, cams on said drum, levers connected with said auxil iary needle raising cams and having noses positioned in the paths of the cams on said .drum, and means for turning said drum on said shaft to move saiddrum carried cams under the noses of said levers for raising and lowering the auxiliary needle raisingv cams into operative and inoperative positions respectively, said drum turnin means being controlled by the shifting of t e knit-' ting mechanism into position for narrow ng for the toe.

.9. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a revoluble needle. cylinder having needles slidable therein, a cam shaft, knitting mechanism controlled by said cam shaft, a cam drum mounted to turn with and on said shaft, a continuously rotatiny gear, means for elevating a column of said needles into the non-working level at apredctern'iined point, cams for elevating to the non-workinsjr level at both ends of the iliary column of the first raised needlesa .predetel-mined number of auxiliary needles, cams on saidv drum, levers connected with said auxiliary needle raising cams and having noses positioned in the paths of the cams on said drum, and means operable by said gear for turning said drum on said shaft to move said drum carried cams under the'noses of said levers for raising and lowering the alikinoperative positions.

10. In a circular knittin -machine, the combination with a revolu le needle cylinder'having needles slidable therein, a cam shaft, knitting mechanism controlled by said cam shaft, a cam drum mounted to turn with and on said shaft, a continuously rotatneedle raising cams into operative and ing gear, means for elevatin "a eolumn of said needles into the. non-wor 'ng level at a predetermined point, cams for elevating to the non-workin level at both ends of the column of the rst raised needles 9. predetermined number of auxiliary needles, cams on .saldv drum, levers connected with saidauxiliary needle raising cams and having noses positioned in the paths of the cams on said drum, means operableby said gear for turning said drum on said shaft to move said drum carried cams under the noses of said levers for raising and lowering the aux iliaryneedle raising cams into operative and inoperative positions, another cam' on said drum, and, a lever connected with the means for turning said drum, said lever having a nose positioned in the path of said last mentioned' drum carried cam whereby said drum turning means is thrown into and out of operation by the passage of said cam under said lever nose.

1 1. In a circular knitting machine, the combination .with a revoluble needle cylinder having needles slidable' therein, a cam shaft, knitting mechanism controlled by said cam shaft, a cam drum mounted to turn with and on said shaft, a continuously rotating gear, means for elevating a column of said needlesinto the non-workm level at .a predetermined point, cams for e evating to the non-workin level at both ends of the column of the rst raised needles a predetermined number 'of auxiliary needles, means on said drum operable on the turning thereof to control the actuation'of said auxiliary needle raising'cams, cams on said gea'rya pivotally mounted arm having its free end positioned adjacent said gear and adapted to be swung into the path of said gear car- I into the path of said gear carried cams.

12. In circular knitting machine, the combination with, a revoluble needle cyla path of said cams, and i inder having needles slidable therein, a cam shaft, knitting mechanism controlled by the non workinig said cam shaft, a cam drum mounted to turn with and on said shaft, a continuously rotating gear, means for elevating a column of said needles into the non-workin level at a predetermined point, cams for elevating to level at both ends of the column of the rst raised needles a predetermined number of auxiliary needles, means on said drum operable on the turning thereof to control the actuation of said auxiliary needle raising cams, cams on said gear, a pivotally mounted arm having a roller on its free end positioned adjacent said gear and adapted to be swung into the path of said gear carried cams, a rod movable to throw said roller into and out of the path of said gear carried cams, means connected with said rod for turning said drum when the roller is moved into the path of said gear carried cams, and cotiperating means on said-drum and rod for moving said roller into and outof the path of said gear carried cams.

'13. In a circular knittin combination with a revolub der having needles slidable therein, a cam shaft, knitting mechanism controlled by said cam shaft, a cam drum mounted to turn with and on'said shaft, a continuously rotating gear, means for elevating a column of said needles into the non-working level at a predetermined point, cams for elevating to the non-working level at both ends of the column of the first raised needles a predetermined number means on said drum operablcon the turning thereof to control the actuation of said auxiliary needle raising cams, cams on said gear, a pivotally mounted arm having a roller on its free end positioned adjacent said gear and adapted to be swung into the path of said gear carried cams, a'rod movable to throw said roller into and out of the path of said gear carried cams, a spring pressed dog connected with said rod for engaging vsaid drums and turning it when the roller is moved into the path of said gear carried cams, and cooperating means on said drum and rod for moving said roller into and out of the path of said gear carried cams.

14. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a revoluble needle cylinder having needles slidable therein, a cam shaft, knitting mechanism controlled by said cam shaft, a cam drum mounted" to machine, the e needle cylinturn with and on said shaft, a continuously" rotating gear, means for elevatin a column of said needles into the non-wor 'ng level at a predetermined point, cams forelevating to the non-working level at both ends of the column of the first raised needles a predetermined number of auxiliary needles,

' shaft,

said cam shaft, a cam drum mounted toa continuously 1 path of auxiliary needles,

means on said drum operable on the turning thereof to control the actuation of said auxiliary needle raising cams, cams on said gear, a pivotally mounted arm having a roller on its free end positioned adjacent said gear and adapted to.be swung into the path of said gear carried cams, a rod movable to throw said roller into and out of the path of said having teeth in its periphery, a spring pressed dog connected with said rod for engaging one of the teeth of said drum for turning it when the roller is moved into the path of said gear carried cams, and cotiperating means on said drum and rod for moving said arm into and out of the path of said gear carried cams.

15. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a revoluble needle cylinder having needles slidable therein, a cam knitting mechanism controlled by turn with and on said shaft, rotating gear, means for elevating a column of said needles into the non-working level at a predetermined point, cams for elevating to the non-working level at both ends of the column of the first raised needles a predetermined number of auxiliary needles, means on said drum operable on the turning thereof to control the actuation of said auxiliary needle raising cams, cams on said gear, a pivotally mounted arm having a roller on its free end positioned adjacent said gear and adapted to be swung into the of said gear carried cams, a rod movable to throw said roller into'and out of the path of said gear carried cams, a lever fulcrumed intermediately of its ends and connected at one end with said rod and having an inturned nose at its other end, and a cam on said drum positioned; in the path of said nose for actuating said lever and throwing said dog into and out of engagement with said drum.

16. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a revoluble needle cylinder having needles slidable'therein, a cam shaft, kmttin" mechanism controlled by said cam shat, a cam drum mounted to turn with and on said shaft, a continuously rotating gear, means for elevating a column of said needles into the nonworking level at a predetermined point, cams. for elevating to the non-work'- ing level at both ends of the column of the first raised needles a predetermined number of auxiliary needles,

a long cam mounted on said drum, a lever fulcrumed intermediately of its ends and having a nose at one end positioned in the path of said long cam, cams on, said gear, a rod connected with the other end of said lever and having a roller adapted" to be positioned in the path of the gear carried cams, a spring gear carried cams, said drum.

pressed dog carried by saidrod, the rim of said drum having a plurality of teeth in the periphery thereof disposed in the path of saidodog, and means forturning said drum 5 just prior to the narrowing for the'toeto remove said'long cam from under said lever' nose, and thereby shift said rod to position the roller carried thereby into the path of the gear carried cams and concurrently to 10 position the dog for engagement with one .of the teeth of said drum when the roller is my hand in presence'o f two subscribing 'ivit- 15 1 nesses.-

, HARRY H: WEST. a Witnesses? l v CHAs'R-AGE'N, EMMA HEDDEN- 

